FYI



Charlie Ewell

Cape Coral, FL

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Subject: Banded Snowy Plovers- please report



Hello all,

Snowy Plovers are state listed- threatened in Florida, and recent surveys
suggest this species is continuing to decline in parts of their range in the
state, particularly the Southwest.  Research determining the underlying
reasons for these declines is ongoing, and one important aspect of this work
is gaining a better understanding of the annual movement and distribution
patterns of Snowy Plovers in Florida.  To this end, biologists have
individually marked Snowy Plovers throughout Florida with unique color-band
combinations, and we need your help re-sighting and reporting observations
of these individuals as we continue to build a better picture of where and
when Snowy Plovers move.



If you see a banded Snowy Plover.

1. Approach the bird slowly, and please try to avoid any disturbance to the
bird (Life is rough enough for a plover!)



2. Record the following information:

a) BAND COMBINATION- please write a detailed description of the bands, the
i) color and ii) relative position to other bands, and iii) position on each
leg (left or right, and upper leg-tibia or lower leg-tarsus). See examples
of band combos and colors at the Florida Bird Conservation Initiative
website:
http://www.floridaconservation.org/FBCI/docs/FBCI_SNPL_Banding_key.pdf



Types of bands used: metal (aluminum) and color bands.



Colors: possible colors include red (R), orange (O), yellow (Y), dark green
(G), light green (g), dark blue (B), light blue (b), white (W), and black
(K). No bands are bi-colored/tri-colored (2/3 colors on one band).
Sometimes two bands of the same color are placed over each other on a leg
(this may look like one very tall band). Remember that bands can discolor,
and occasionally fall off.  Please specify if you are unsure of any of the
bands or if you failed to see all parts of the leg clearly.



b) LOCATION- use a GPS unit, find your lat and long on a map
(http://www.getlatlon.com/), or write a detailed description (please include
common place names that we can use to plot your location on a map).



c) DATE/TIME



d) NOTES- i) describe any injuries, ii) with a flock? (if so, flock size and
composition)


3. If possible, get photo-documentation.



4. Please report your observations to the following emails:

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Chris Burney

Shorebird Partnership Coordinator

Species Conservation Planning Section

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission



Southwest Regional Office

3900 Drane Field Rd

Lakeland, FL 33811

Phone: (863) 648-3200

Fax: (863) 701-1248

Email: [log in to unmask]